Tobacco-carrier



(No Model.)

B. WALTON.

TOBACCO CARRIER.

No. 332,123. PatentedDec. 8, 1885.

17070672202. 12/ 10022? hill-07a, m/ 0% v i I dig;

To all whom it may concern.-

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD WALTON, OF OARTERSVILLE, VIRGINIA.

TOBACCO- CARRIER.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,123, dated December 8, 1885.

Application filed September 19, 1885. Serial No. 177,592. (No model.)

Be it known that I, EDWARD WALTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oartersville, in the county of Cumberland and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Carriers, of whichthe following is a specification.

V In harvesting tobacco it is customary to have an assistant who carries in his hands what is known as a tobacco-stick. This stick is held horizontally with both hands in front of the body, and as the tobacco-stalks are split partially down and cut off below the lower leaves they are hung in succession upon said tobacco-stick, which receives and supportseach stalk by being passed through its split portion. In order to support the stick properly, it is necessary for the assistant to hold it-with both hands; but as the stalks are hung onto the stick usually alternately from opposite ends by the men engaged-in cutting, the assistant is obliged at intervals to relax the hold of one hand or the other to make roomfor a freshly-cut stalk and enable itto behung onYthe stick... \Vhen thus held by one hand only, it is difficult and often impossible to balance the stick properly, so as to prevent the attachedtobacco-stalks from dragging on the ground among the stubble and uncut plants, or from being pressed against the body of the bearer in his efiorts to support the increasing weight of the accumulating stalks. The fresh tobacco-leaves, which at all times require great care in handling, are thus exposed to serious injury, and may have their value almost totally destroyed by becoming bruised or broken. This manner of carrying tobacco by means of a stick held in the hand, is, besides, exceedingly fatiguing to the arms and back of the laborer.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective means of supporting and carrying the ordinary tobacco-sticks in such a manner as to prevent the tobacco-leaves from dragging on the ground or among the stubble or other obstructions as the bearer moves forward, and also to enable a person to readily carry a number of loaded tobaccosticks without fatigue and without liability of bruising or breaking them by contact with his body and limbs.

To this end my invention consists of a tobacco-stick carrier which consists of a frame or support adapted to be attached to the body of the bearer by straps or otherwise, and hav- 5 ing one or more forward-projecting brackets for the tobacco-stick to rest upon, while it can be easily steadied with one hand, thus leaving the other hand free to assist in hanging the tobacco on the stick.

' The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective View of my tobacco-carrier, showing the manner of attaching it to the body of the wearer, and Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of my tobaecocarrier with apron attached.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A designates a frame, plate, or support, that may be made of wood or other material. Attached to or formed on this plate isa forward-projecting bracket or arm, B, having near its forward end .a notch or recess, a, for receiving the tobacco-stick, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The plate or frame A may be provided nearthe top with openings b, for the attachment of a strap or cord, 0, that is passed over the shoulders of the bearer. It may also have near its lower end apertures c, for at-' tachment of a waist strap or belt, D, bot-h straps O and D being preferably provided-withbuckles, by which they can be adjusted, as desired. Instead of passing the attaching straps, cords, or bands through openings 1) and c, as shown, it is obvious that they may be attached to the carrier by any other suitable means.

It will be observed that this tobaccostick carrier is arranged in front of the bearers body against the lower part of the chest, the strap 0 being passed over the shoulders to the back of the neck, while the belt D is secured around the waist, thus affording a firm sup port for the load to be placed upon the carrier, and at the same time bracing the bearers back and enabling him to carry his burden without undue fatigue and without cramping his movements.

After attaching the device properly to his body the bearer walks through the field with a man on each side, to split and cut the tobaccostalks. The assistant who bears the tobaccocarrier also has an ordinary tobacco stick about four and a half feet long, or any other suitable length. This stick is rested in the notch or recess a of the carrier and steadied with one hand, the assistant or bearer thus having the other hand free to help in loading the stalks upon the stick as they are cut.

Itwill be seen that the weight of the tobaccostick is entirely supported by the arm or bracket portion of the carrier without in any way permitting the tobacco stalks or leaves to come against the body of the bearer, and without any possibility of dragging on the ground when the carrier is supported at a proper height. It will also be observed that the as sistant can readily balance the stick with one hand, as the cut stalks are alternately hung thereon from opposite ends. When the tobacco-stick that rests in the recess or notch a is filled, it may be removed and replaced by another, or an additional tobaccostick can be supported on the arm B, back of said notch. In this way several filled tobacco-sticks can be carried at once, if required. The device can thus be used to advantage for loading to a wagon, or from the wagon to the dryinghouse, by reason offithe great ease with which a number of filled tobacco-sticks can be carried at once without risk of damage to the tobacco. While cutting the tobacco, however, only one tobacco-stick is carried at a time, the filled sticks being laid aside for future removal.

It is obvious that the form of the tobaccostick carrier can be varied in several ways, and that it may be made of wood, metal, or other material, either in the form of a solid plate and bracket connected by screws (1, as

shown, or of open-work or other convenient pattern. The plate or body portion A can be made with flat surfaces, if desired; or it may be shaped to conform to the person, and thus add to the comfort while it is in use. An apron, E, for protecting the clothing, can be employed, if desired, and this apron may be secured to the lower part of the carrier, as shown in Fig. 2, and have a strap or cord, 0,

for passing around the waist, as represented in Fig. 1. I V

In cutting and harvesting tobacco it is preferable to hang it as soon as out, rather than allow it to come in contact with the ground. For this reason it is common to place the stalks as soon as out upon sticks that may be which they can be rapidly and safely conveyed to any desired point for transfer towagons,

or thence to the drying-house. What I claim is- 1. A tobacco-carrier consisting of a body portion adapted to be attached to the person in front of the chest, and having a forwardprojecting arm or bracket for supporting a tobacco-stick, substantially as described.

2. A tobacco-carrier consisting of a'body:

portion or plate having straps for attaching it to the person in front of the chest, and pro-: vided with a forward-projecting arm or bracket havinga notch or recess for receiving and: supporting a tobacco-stick, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a tobacco-carrier adapted to be attach ed to the person, and have ing an arm or bracket for supporting. a tobaoco-stick, of an apron attached to said car rier, substantially as described.

nature in presence of two witnesses. EDWARD WALTON.

Witnesses:

JAMES L. NORRIS, J. A. RUTHERFORD.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my sig-i 

